Foreshadowing in Macbeth?

Question

I was talking to my teacher today about foreshadowing and an essay i am writing. I told her about lines from Macbeth which confused me. For instance after Macbeth kills Duncan and he comes back to talk to his wife, she says she heard crickets make noise and an owl scream. (Act 2 scene 2) I believed this was foreshadowing of Duncan's death, but it already happened. Another time is when Malcom and Macbeth talk about a sacrificial lamb. (Act 4, scene 3) To me this foreshadows the death of Duncan's son, but he already died, they just don't know. I asked her how this could be foreshadowing when it already happened. She said it was, and for me to go and read the def of Foreshadowing again. I did and i still don't understand. How can these instances be foreshadowing?

Answer 1

I'll try my hardest to help.. not that good with this stuff..

but i think in act 2 this quote better foreshadows Duncans death..

"Hark! Peace! / It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bell"man, / which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it"

becuase a sherik of an owl near a house is an ill omen and it means death.. and this was heard during which the murder was going to occur.. this foreshadowed the Death of Duncan because for the reader we didnt know where macbeth stood on this issue of killing Duncan...he kept going back and forth.